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Pokemon Sun and Moon Latest Update!
Pokemon hit us with it’s latest video. If you have not seen it yet, check it here Pokemon Sun and Moon Video.
Let me just say, I have loved everything Gamefreak is doing with this installment. Some Pokemons are still hit or miss but the ideas and creativeness they are trying with mechanics and style is welcomed.
Here’s some of the takeaways.
#1 Pokemons getting fresh make overs:
Have you been playing 20 years of Pokemon? Well Gamefreak is giving some new life into old pokemons, and I like it, personally. Vulpix and Ninetails are getting ice forms as well as Sandshrew and Sandslash. They retain their design but get new colors and typing.
Exeggutor has an Alola form as well. I’m more or less on the fence but I am sure it will work out.
#2 Region based forms are back:
Much like Shellos in Diamond and Vivillion in X and Y, where you catch a pokemon matters. Shellos would be green or pink depending on where you caught it. Vivillion would have different designs depending on where you caught them. Oricorio will have four different forms depending on which island you catch them on. The four forms are the Baile form (Fire/Flying), the Pom Pom form (Electric/ Flying), Pa’u form (Psychic/Flying) Sensu form (Ghost/Flying).
This is a pretty sweet addition if it works how I think it will, because it will be four Pokemon for the price of one. I don’t know about you, but I am always down for more Pokemon!
Their ability is dancer which I did not realize how powerful it can be the first time I watched it.
Here’s a list of all “Dance Moves”
Quiver Dance- Raise Special Attack, Special Defense, Speed by one stage(Most have special based typing so this my be the most useful to steal)
Dragon Dance- Raise Speed and Attack by a stage
Rain Dance- Summons rain for 5 turns (Seems redundant)
Swords Dance- Raise Attack by two stages (Depends on stats and move pool, but does not seem as good.)
Teeter Dance- Confuses all other active Pokemons (Seems like a funny interaction)
Lunar Dance- KO yourself, heal the next Pokemon up (This could be used against you, be careful)
The rest of the dance moves are all attacking moves, we will have to wait to see how this interaction works out.
It’s an awesome ability that could stop a dragon setting up dragon dance, but it does not stop there. Assuming it works how I think it will, it becomes amazing in double battles. Have Pokemon A use Quiver Dance and your Oricorio will copy it. However, I do not know if this counts as your move. If it does, it becomes worse then I think it is. If it does not count as your turn, it can get pretty broken in double battle.
I wish the wording was “Copy the effects of dance moves”. Also I could see Bellossom getting this ability.
Minior has shields down, which seems to act like a substitute ability (much like disguise), and it has four different cores. Not much has been shown yet.
#3 Island Trials
We now have an Island Trial on the four islands, beating them will unlock the leader of each island. This is how you will gain access to new islands. I’m curious to learn more about this aspect.
#4 Z attacks are a thing:
They look broken. Just look at this
Here’s a couple things that stand our about Z attacks.
Look at the levels. It shows Rowlet, Litten, and Popplio, and Pikachu. All baby forms. So how early do you get access to this broken mechanic?
Also, as the video shows, the trainer is the one doing the dance, so it is possible that any Pokemon can use its corresponding type attack.
With new forms, z moves, and tons of variety, this could shake up competitive play as well as how we play Pokemon in general.
The future is as bright as the Alola regions, and I for one, am super excited for what it hold.
Monster Musume Recap
Monster Musume is an anime based off the manga of the same name. The manga is written by Okayado. The anime is directed by Tatsuysa Yohsihira through Lerche Studio.
Spoilers: Very minor. Monster Musume was nowhere near my anticipation list, but I had some free time and decided to watch it. We have a lot to discuss with this one.
Plot: The plot is actually cool. A huge new law was passed. The law allowed mystical species to come live with the humans. There are some conditions however. They range from very common sense ones like no human shall hurt a mystical species and vise versa. To very political ones like you shall not make love with the mystical species. Than there is the sub plot. The ever strange and dangerous love story of Kimihito Kirusu and Miia, a half human and half snake creature. Miia loves Kimihito and wants him to be her first love. However, Ms. Smith, the one who looks after Miia, stands in the way. She constantly reminds Kimihito that loving her would be the same as hurting her, which is against the law.
The Opening: This opening scene might have been the best of any summer anime. This is because it did what an opening scene is suppose to do. It establishes our characters and their motives. Kimihito understands loving Miia back would be against the laws. Miia doesn’t understand the severity of mixing species. We also see that Miia is madly in love with Kimihito. The scene also sets up the tone well. It is very much going to be about their relationship and the show is not going to shy away from sexuality, in fact, its going to embrace it. For these reasons, you know what you are going to get before the theme song even starts.
Characters: For a show about a larnia(Half snake half human) girl trying to get her host family to fall in love with her, the characters are surprising great. I actually really like both Miia and Kimihito a lot. You can totally feel for Miia. Shes in a strange new land and just wants to be loved and liked but the man she wants to love her, cant. Kimihito, even though he wasn’t suppose to be her host family, he still manned up and took her in. Plus, it would be easy for them to try to carry out an affair in privacy, the fact he doesn’t shows he does care about her. On top of that, some layers are added to them when Miia learns that humans don’t like her, but Kimihito stands up for her. My only reserve right now is that I know other girls get added later, so i am worried their relationship will not mean much later on(I have not read the manga so I have no idea how future relationships are going to work out).
The world: The world is actually surprising close to ours. Even though mythological creatures do not exist in our world, both worlds share a huge common characteristic, the fear of people who are different. Here in America, weve been struggling with equality and acceptances of others for hundreds of years, longer than that for the rest of the world. I think thats where this show shines. The humans are straight up nasty to the other species, Miia in this instance. Miia has done nothing wrong and is not a bad creature, the humans are just wicked in the way they treat her. With more creatures getting involved later, I am interested to see the world adapt to these creatures like our world has adapted to concepts we are not comfortable with.
Recap: Went in thinking this would just be a show of fanservice and cheesy romance, and it definitely has both. However, the worldly and political view of this show makes me feel like I am watching something deeper and that Kimihito and Miia will be part of a movement. The show surprising has a lot of heart and soul to it and it makes me interested in what will become of Miia and Kimihito. Lets break it down some more:
Action: Action is here surprisingly. In a world where humans and creatures do not get along, fights will ensue it seems. Romance: Clearly the bread and butter of this show. The first arc, at least, seems it will be about their relationship Plot: The plot and subplot are good. It sets up the romance and why it will be difficult to achieve.
Characters: The characters are very solid.
The World: Very cool world, cant wait to see it expand.
Humor: A surprisingly very funny show.
The Ending: The ending was nothing special but it didn’t lower my interest in seeing later episodes either.
Verdict: You got to go in with an open mind. It really isn’t just about the fanservice. They explore the world and characters quite nicely for a first episode. I was very impressed with this show, however, I see potential parts that could make or break it. If it stops exploring the world and just focuses solely on the sexual content, it could get old fast. If it explores the realm of equality and what true love is, I think it could be a great show. Only time will tell what direction it takes.
Gate Recap
Gate is an anime based off the light novel of the same name written by Takumi Yanai and Illustrated by Daisuke Izuka
Kurojishi. The anime is directed Takahiko Kyogoku and ran through A-1 Pictures
Gate received an honorable mention on my most anticipated list. I think this might be a hidden gem.
Spoilers: Only minor spoilers dealing
with episode one.
Plot: A gate opens in Ginza, Japan. Monsters and soldiers come rushing out and attacking the citizens. The JSDF have way more advanced weaponry and fight back. Itami is an adult male who is on his way to a convention to buy items to fuel his fantasy addiction. That faithful day, the city is attacked and Itami helps save hundreds of lives. He is later promoted to second Lieutenant and is upon the soldiers that get sent into the gate to investigate the new world.
Characters: Itami is really the only main character explored, though we are introduced to two other soldiers, one who shares an interest in the fantasy world like Itami. Right now Itami is kind of forgettable as far as main characters go, but I think Ill really like Itami later on for some reason. In later episodes we will be introduced to mythical creatures like elves and such.
The World: Could be my favorite part. So far, episode one took place in Japan. The ending had soldiers going into the gate to see whats on the other side. And its the worst(and maybe the best) thing, it ended with the military just crossing over. so the audience caught just enough of a glimpse of the landscape in the distant and the charging number of forces the opposition had. The world seems like its going to be fleshed out very soon. Which, of course, has me excited.
Recap: Episode one is a set up episode. While there is action and character introduction, and some exposition, don’t expect anything too dramatic from this episode. I think this episode ended greatly and has a bright future. I still haven’t seen gangsta or God Eater, but this show went from an honorable mention of summer anime for me, to possibly my number two pick. Lets give it a closer look:
Action: Plenty. None of it important so far though. I am sure there will be more.
Romance: None that I recall. As we get introduced to later characters, we will see if anything blooms.
Story: Good so far. It sets up a new mystical world.
Characters: Not a strong point so far. I am not crazy about Itami but there is still a lot of time left for him to grow.
The World: The aspect I am most looking forward to. It should be fun to watch it develop.
Humor: Definitely not the funniest to me. But we’re about to be exposed to a world of new characters that could spice up the humor.
The Ending: Great ending! Maybe the best of any summer anime. It had me ready for episode 2 for sure.
Verdict: I have a feeling it is not for everyone. The characters so far aren’t that memorable and its not the funniest show, but the world seems like it has so much potential. Maybe I am over hyping it. I do believe it has to time to develop into a solid summer anime.
Ushio and Tora
Ushio and Tora is an anime based of the manga with the same name written by Kazuhiro Fujita. The anime is directed by Satoshi Nishimura and ran through MAPPA studio.
This series ranked two on my most anticipated anime of the summer. In short, it lived up it.
Spoilers: Minor spoilers just involving the first episode.
Plot: Ushio is a young boy who is left to look after his dad’s temple while he is away. Upon cleaning, he falls into a basement where he meets a demon trapped by the beast spear, the one his dad had been telling him about. Here in the basement with the exchanging of dialogue between the two, I knew I was going to love this anime. An unlikely of bonds is formed when Ushio must unleash the demon to save his friends. The two will now attempt to work as a team to stop the remaining demons Tora’s demonic aura attracts.
Characters:My favorite part of the anime. I will just be talking about the two title characters. Ushio is a lovable main character. He is very funny, loves his friends, and is actually quite fierce. He never truly seems scared of Tora. In fact, he quickly takes control of him. Tora is hilarious for an “evil spirit turned good guy by force” character. I am absolutely amused by their dynamic together and can’t wait to see them grow has demon hunters.
The World: It is pretty standard. The fantasy aspect of it comes from Tora’s aura attracting evil spirits.
Recap: My favorite anime so far, I wish it was already done so I could just watch all the episodes at once. Watch this anime if you’re into action anime with comedy. Lets break it down by category:
Action: There wasn’t action until about 20 minutes into it, but that’s okay. It was awesome and I know future episodes will have great action as well.
Romance: You get the sense of love triangle between Ushio, Nakamaru, and Inoue. I haven’t read the manga so I don’t know what develops but my money is on Ushio and Nakamaru.
Story: The story may not be groundbreaking but I’m definitely into it and sets up for an awesome story.
Characters: Ushio and Tora alone are awesome. I hope Nakamaru and Inoue play larger parts in later episodes.
The World: As mentioned, the world doesn’t seem any different from your average anime other the fact there are demons on the loose.
Humor: Hilarious anime. It doesn’t just rely on them two bouncing off each other. Ushio is pretty funny by himself and when he is around Nakamaru they’re funny as well. Definitely a strong point.
The Ending: Maybe the best ending I’ve seen from the summer animes. It ends on a high note and has me so beyond pumped for episode two.
Verdict: Anybody who loves a great action show with funny characters to go with it needs to watch this. It has been my favorite summer anime. Go watch it.
Top Five Summer Animes I am Looking Forward To!
With summer animes starting as early as next week, it is time to see what I am most looking forward to!
#5- Dragon Ball Super-
Whether you like DBZ or think Dragon Ball needs another series is a topic for a later debate. I would be lying though if I said I was not going to at least check it out. The series will start out after the Majin Buu saga, and stars the original characters, so I think it will be exciting at least.
#4- Rokka no Yuusha-
The story follows six heroes who are deemed the six heroes of the flower. They all agree to meet up together only it seems seven have arrived. They assume the villain is the seventh member and now they must figure out who is really the fraud member. I have never read the light novel it is based off of, so I might have the wrong idea of where the series will go. But based off the description Im definitely willing to give it a few watches and see where it goes.
#3- Gangsta-
Gangsta sounds like an amine I could get caught up in. The town is ruled by four rival gangs. There are also people with super speed and super strength known as twilights. The two main characters do jobs no else wants and that’s when things get a little tricky. A cop ask for help handling a new gang that is starting trouble. This seems like a great action anime to get wrapped up in.
#2- Ushio to Tora-
A boy doesn’t believe his dad when his dad tells him he sealed a demon by stabbing him with a spear and that the demon is now in their basement. When the boy finds his family and friends are in danger by spirits, he unlocks the demon. Now we will see their relationship develop and rather unleashing him was the right thing to do.
Honorable Mentions- Gate and Charlotte. Two animes that I might give a watch but did not quite crack the list.
#1- God Eater-
Another “Humans are going extinct and must go into hiding and play defense for a long time when a new species named “Oracle seeds” begin adapting and taking out humanity” kind of story, and I am totally digging the sound of it. Our typical weapons do not work. Later on, we develop new weapons known as God arcs. With this, an elite force is formed and plan to take back the fight.I have been waiting on this one for a little while now so I am pumped for it to air already.
This summer should have more than a few animes for everyone to enjoy. These are just the ones I am looking forward to. Comment the ones you guys cant wait to spend the next months getting attached to!
Top Five Anime You Should Watch To Start Off Your Summer!
Everyone knows about Naruto and Once Piece. If you are looking to add some good quality spice to your anime watching list, this list is definitely for you!
Here is my list of Animes you should be watching:
#5 Attack On Titan- Season one of AoT was ferocious and blow up instantly over here in the states. Odds are you’ve probably heard of it but if you are on the fence about it, it is definitely worth the watch. Season two of the anime is still a while away so you can watch this one at your own pace. It is only 25 episodes long. My friend and I knocked it out in two viewings and thought it was great. It has its flaws, of course. I am not a huge fan of Eren until about episode 23 or so, but the other main characters make up for that. Plus the titans are some of the cooler villains I have seen and only get cooler as the season progresses. Watch as the human race tries to take Earth back in this action thriller! It is a great starting point to kick off your summer anime indulgence. You can watch this on crunchy roll and netflix
#4 Death Parade- Death Parade is over, clocking out with just 12 episodes, but boy is it ever a thrill ride. The story is about how we get judged after death. Two recently deceased souls enter this realm and compete in intense games of life and death. I wont spoil anything but it definitely gets better as the seasons goes on. The last two or three episodes are SO intense. You can catch this one on Hulu
#3 Amagi Brilliant Park- If you are looking for something a little more light-hearted and a lot more humorous then look no farther than Amagi Brilliant Park. A high schooler, Kanie, is asked to be the acting the GM and is tasked with the job of getting the desired amount of visitors in three months or the park will close down. The main characters, Kanie, Latifah, and sento, are very likable but the three mascots steal the show. Crunchyroll has twelve episodes so is not hard to finish but you wont want to stop once you have started. It is brilliant.
#2 Is it Wrong To Try to Pick up Girls in a Dungeon?- This is the first anime on this list that is still being updated weekly. It has become one of my top favorite animes in its short time. Ive only seen about the first eight episodes of Sword Art Online but IIWTTTPUGIAD plays a lot like SAO from what ive seen. Gods come down to live with us humans and form Familia’s. The God’s are the head of each Familia and they get the humans to go into dungeons. The humans goals are to go deeper into the dungeons. It is not set in a video game world like SAO but the characters level up, learn spells, and fight monsters much like a character would in an rpg. There is a weird love decagon going on where every female character seems to be in love with Bell, the main character. But I stick around for Bells progression from a weak fighter that no one wanted as their partner to now the slightly better version of him ten episodes in. With only ten episodes, itll be easy to catch up with.
Two way tie for first
We have a two tie for number one
#1 Assassination Classroom- This show is awesome! Brief plot recap without spoilers: An alien lands on Earth and we cannot kill it. The alien decides he wants to teach a class of reject students in hopes they can make better exam grades then the head of class kids. The only catch is the kids also have to find a way to kill the alien by next summer or he will destroy earth. When I first heard this plot I thought it was the craziest sounding plot, but nearly 20 or so episodes in and I am addicted. I am so pumped to see where it goes. It is only about 20 episodes in, so catching up shouldn’t be a problem, but it is updated every Friday on Hulu.
#1 Parasyte- The Maxim- This is an absolute gem. I started watching it when it was on its final arc, and probably finished it in three sittings. It has 24 episodes all on crunchyroll and is over, so you can catch up easily. It is based off a 1980’s manga series but the message it delivers is still true today. When these new species start emerging on earth, humans fear for their extinction. These creatures, later named parasytes, latch to a humans bloodstream and travel to the brain. From their the parasytes than feed on humans to survive It brings into question the hierarchy of living species and how important life is. It is absolutely gory in an awesome way but it also profoundly beautiful and has a lot of heart and thought. It is a much watch for sure!
Enjoy your summer of Anime right!
Da_Hubbz 